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Riverkeep
The Danék is a wild, treacherous river, and the Fobisher family has tended it for generations—clearing it of ice and weed, making sure boats can get through, and fishing corpses from its bleak depths. Wulliam’s father, the current Riverkeep, is proud of this work. Wull dreads it. And in one week, when he comes of age, he will have to take over.
Then the unthinkable happens. While recovering a drowned man, Wull’s father is pulled under—and when he emerges, he is no longer himself. A dark spirit possesses him, devouring him from the inside. In an instant, Wull is Riverkeep. And he must care for his father, too.
When he hears that a cure for his father lurks in the belly of a great sea-dwelling beast known as the mormorach, he embarks on an epic journey down the river that his family has so long protected—but never explored. Along the way, he faces death in any number of ways, meets people and creatures touched by magic and madness and alchemy, and finds courage he never knew he possessed.
Then the unthinkable happens. While recovering a drowned man, Wull’s father is pulled under—and when he emerges, he is no longer himself. A dark spirit possesses him, devouring him from the inside. In an instant, Wull is Riverkeep. And he must care for his father, too.
When he hears that a cure for his father lurks in the belly of a great sea-dwelling beast known as the mormorach, he embarks on an epic journey down the river that his family has so long protected—but never explored. Along the way, he faces death in any number of ways, meets people and creatures touched by magic and madness and alchemy, and finds courage he never knew he possessed.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published July 26, 2016
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3108 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
October 11, 2018
This will be DNF-ed !
I’m almost a 100 pages in and the writing is giving me a headache and the plot is messy which ended up that i do not understand what’s going on.
Sad, i really wanted to enjoy this book.
I’m almost a 100 pages in and the writing is giving me a headache and the plot is messy which ended up that i do not understand what’s going on.
Sad, i really wanted to enjoy this book.
June 15, 2016
[I received a copy of this book through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.]
A coming-of-age adventure in a world that is both threatening and full of wonders, following a boy who embarks on a journey to save his father: after Wulliam witnessed his dad being possessed by a river spirit, he decides to take his only parent to the sea, hunting down a legendary beast whose fluids are rumoured to have many healing properties. And even if it means abandoning his duties as the keeper of the river, Wull feels he doesn't have a choice: either that, or let his father wither and die.
There were quite a few magical, poetic descriptions and moments in this book, and I never found it hard to picture the characters' surroundings, or to imagine the mormorach, diving in the dark waters, preying on ships and crews bent on taking it down. Nor was it hard to imagine little Bonn, or Tillinghast's strange body (bodies?).
However, I was a bit disappointed in the “adventure” itself, for it was rather sluggish in more than one place, and some events and character arcs felt put on a bus after a while. Most of the people Wulliam meets have their quirks and an aura of mystery: from the undertaker to Tillinghast the man who's not alive, from Mix and her strange tattoos to Remedie cradling her strange baby, from the solitary scientist in the Deadmoor to the silent Mr Bent. The problem is that some of those people were given their own adventure... yet said adventures were never really concluded: only Wull and Tillinghast seem to have an ending of their own (as well as a few other characters, but let's just say that their ending is a little more, uhm, permanent). As a result, it felt less like an open ending, and more like the author wanted to get to Wulliam's ending mostly, with his quest being a little... on the side? I may be mistaken, but that's how I keep on feeling about it now. I still don't know why Mix doesn't eat, or what happened to Remedie and Bonn.
Wulliam was also pretty annoying as a character. On the one hand, I could understand his desire to save his Pappa, along with his underlying somewhat selfish reasons (he wants to save him because he loves him, of course, but also because he doesn't know how to be the Riverkeep in his stead, and wishes for his guidance some more); I could also understand how he'd come to be angry, considering everybody seemed to hitch a ride and not lift a finger to help. On the other hand, well... those characters helped in different ways (Till does pay for the trip, after all, and Mix does have a knack to gather resources unseen), and Wull after a while became more the annoying, tantrum-throwing type than the rightly-annoyed, unfairly-treated one.
Conclusion: ~ 2.5 stars out of 5. I liked the atmosphere, the depiction of the river and of the places travelled in this novel. Nevertheless, the pace was rather uneven, and unless it's the first book in a series and we're bound to learn more in a second one, not bringing closure to other characters' stories made me feel unsatisfied.
A coming-of-age adventure in a world that is both threatening and full of wonders, following a boy who embarks on a journey to save his father: after Wulliam witnessed his dad being possessed by a river spirit, he decides to take his only parent to the sea, hunting down a legendary beast whose fluids are rumoured to have many healing properties. And even if it means abandoning his duties as the keeper of the river, Wull feels he doesn't have a choice: either that, or let his father wither and die.
There were quite a few magical, poetic descriptions and moments in this book, and I never found it hard to picture the characters' surroundings, or to imagine the mormorach, diving in the dark waters, preying on ships and crews bent on taking it down. Nor was it hard to imagine little Bonn, or Tillinghast's strange body (bodies?).
However, I was a bit disappointed in the “adventure” itself, for it was rather sluggish in more than one place, and some events and character arcs felt put on a bus after a while. Most of the people Wulliam meets have their quirks and an aura of mystery: from the undertaker to Tillinghast the man who's not alive, from Mix and her strange tattoos to Remedie cradling her strange baby, from the solitary scientist in the Deadmoor to the silent Mr Bent. The problem is that some of those people were given their own adventure... yet said adventures were never really concluded: only Wull and Tillinghast seem to have an ending of their own (as well as a few other characters, but let's just say that their ending is a little more, uhm, permanent). As a result, it felt less like an open ending, and more like the author wanted to get to Wulliam's ending mostly, with his quest being a little... on the side? I may be mistaken, but that's how I keep on feeling about it now. I still don't know why Mix doesn't eat, or what happened to Remedie and Bonn.
Wulliam was also pretty annoying as a character. On the one hand, I could understand his desire to save his Pappa, along with his underlying somewhat selfish reasons (he wants to save him because he loves him, of course, but also because he doesn't know how to be the Riverkeep in his stead, and wishes for his guidance some more); I could also understand how he'd come to be angry, considering everybody seemed to hitch a ride and not lift a finger to help. On the other hand, well... those characters helped in different ways (Till does pay for the trip, after all, and Mix does have a knack to gather resources unseen), and Wull after a while became more the annoying, tantrum-throwing type than the rightly-annoyed, unfairly-treated one.
Conclusion: ~ 2.5 stars out of 5. I liked the atmosphere, the depiction of the river and of the places travelled in this novel. Nevertheless, the pace was rather uneven, and unless it's the first book in a series and we're bound to learn more in a second one, not bringing closure to other characters' stories made me feel unsatisfied.
February 16, 2016
A truly extraordinary, rich and vivid debut. Martin has built a world and concocted a story you can get lost in - this is one of the most engrossing books I've read this year, and I loved every second of it. One for fans of Pratchett and Gaiman.
March 3, 2016
super torn. This would have been awesome except for the world building problem. Rivers only flow one way...Emory Blummell's face was found at the boathouse. The boathouse is upriver from Canna Bay where the Mormorach ate the rest of him. Wull rows "with the current" from the boat house to Canna Bay to hunt the Mormorach. How the heck did the face get to the boathouse (or all the dead bodies from the city, for that matter)? It was like a super-distracting fantasy Zen koan and was the only thing I could think about through all the great dialogue, fantastic fantasy names, and humor...and now you probably want to read it anyway...which would still be a good choice if you don't mind about the river current issue. #physicspeople #worldbuildingisimportant #booknerd
Read
July 18, 2016As I mentioned earlier, I have decided that I am not able to finish reading Riverkeep. I gave the book 100 pages and almost the entire time reading it, all I could think of was other things which I wanted to read. I adore the cover of this book and it sounded like an awesome premise to me. However, I just couldn't lose myself in this book like I wanted to.
Riverkeep tells the story of Wulliam, who is set to inherit the job of Riverkeep upon his 16th birthday in a week or so. The job entails keeping the river flowing in the horribly cold weather and removing the dead when they are found. Wulliam does not want the job, but is forced to start early when his father is taken by the river late one evening, only to return a few hours later as a very different person. Add in a few sea legends and some monsters and it sounds like a great book, and I am sure there will be many out there who will like it.
There were just too many issues for me. I found the book to be long-winded and boring. There is a specific dialect used with the writing and I was just not focused enough to catch on or even care. I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters and although I have it 100 pages, when I decided to quit, there was still over 300 pages still waiting and I just couldn't bear to go on.
I rarely DNF a book. I think this is the third since 2011. It is not a decision I take lightly and even after it was made, and I moved on to another book which I am thrilled to say I am really liking, I still feel bad. I will never know what happened to Wulliam and his father, or if the sea monster was caught or killed. I will just have to live with that though because there is no going back for me. I am not providing a rating for Riverkeep because I think it would be unfair. I do believe it holds an interesting story for some and hope others find it interesting and intriguing. This was just the wrong book for me.
I received Riverkeep from the Penguin First to Read program in exchange for an honest review.
Riverkeep tells the story of Wulliam, who is set to inherit the job of Riverkeep upon his 16th birthday in a week or so. The job entails keeping the river flowing in the horribly cold weather and removing the dead when they are found. Wulliam does not want the job, but is forced to start early when his father is taken by the river late one evening, only to return a few hours later as a very different person. Add in a few sea legends and some monsters and it sounds like a great book, and I am sure there will be many out there who will like it.
There were just too many issues for me. I found the book to be long-winded and boring. There is a specific dialect used with the writing and I was just not focused enough to catch on or even care. I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters and although I have it 100 pages, when I decided to quit, there was still over 300 pages still waiting and I just couldn't bear to go on.
I rarely DNF a book. I think this is the third since 2011. It is not a decision I take lightly and even after it was made, and I moved on to another book which I am thrilled to say I am really liking, I still feel bad. I will never know what happened to Wulliam and his father, or if the sea monster was caught or killed. I will just have to live with that though because there is no going back for me. I am not providing a rating for Riverkeep because I think it would be unfair. I do believe it holds an interesting story for some and hope others find it interesting and intriguing. This was just the wrong book for me.
I received Riverkeep from the Penguin First to Read program in exchange for an honest review.
June 5, 2016
Didn't finish it- abandoned after a few chapters. The boasts on the cover of the proof copy I received were enough to annoy me initially, and the book really didn't live up to them. It was a slow start, and Wulliam? Really?
The third chapter was a little better, but not enough to keep me reading. Onto better, less egregiously marketed books.
The third chapter was a little better, but not enough to keep me reading. Onto better, less egregiously marketed books.
October 8, 2016
This story was so beautiful and it made me feel all the feels. At times I had a few good laughs, at others I shed some tears. Parts made me all warm and fuzzy inside, while others freaked me a bit out with their weirdness and their gore.
It took me a while to get into the story, with the first 100 pages or so being a bit slow, incoherent and confusing. But when things start to get together and you see more of this wonderful world, you can't help but love it. Wull and his father meet some weird and unique people, all with their own interesting story. The creatures that inhabit this world are absolutely fascinating and all the magic is intriguing while not being too in your face complicated.
Wull is an amazing young man. He is strong, brave, stubborn and with a great heart and a good set of brains. He helps out where he can, while not taking shit from anyone that prevents him from helping his dad, even if that person is his dad himself. You can't help but feel sorry for him and cheer him on, even though he does not always make the right choices.
Overall a wonderful and magical read. Although the start isn't that promising, I urge you to push through it. Definitely worth picking up.
It took me a while to get into the story, with the first 100 pages or so being a bit slow, incoherent and confusing. But when things start to get together and you see more of this wonderful world, you can't help but love it. Wull and his father meet some weird and unique people, all with their own interesting story. The creatures that inhabit this world are absolutely fascinating and all the magic is intriguing while not being too in your face complicated.
Wull is an amazing young man. He is strong, brave, stubborn and with a great heart and a good set of brains. He helps out where he can, while not taking shit from anyone that prevents him from helping his dad, even if that person is his dad himself. You can't help but feel sorry for him and cheer him on, even though he does not always make the right choices.
Overall a wonderful and magical read. Although the start isn't that promising, I urge you to push through it. Definitely worth picking up.
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April 18, 2016I received a digital copy of this title via Netgalley.
Categories: YA, fantasy, death and dying
DNFed at: 11%
Comments:
It felt like I read a lot more than just 11% of this book. That astonishingly lovely cover drew me in, along with the blurb, with promises of a boy whose job it is to drag corpses from a river, but I just couldn’t get my head around the world-building. The main character wasn’t particularly charismatic either, and I felt like his confusion and despair became my own. Early on I got the sense that reading this was going to be like wading through molasses, so I made the decision to put it down. This one would probably appeal to those who like high fantasy and epic tales that require total immersion in a new world.
Categories: YA, fantasy, death and dying
DNFed at: 11%
Comments:
It felt like I read a lot more than just 11% of this book. That astonishingly lovely cover drew me in, along with the blurb, with promises of a boy whose job it is to drag corpses from a river, but I just couldn’t get my head around the world-building. The main character wasn’t particularly charismatic either, and I felt like his confusion and despair became my own. Early on I got the sense that reading this was going to be like wading through molasses, so I made the decision to put it down. This one would probably appeal to those who like high fantasy and epic tales that require total immersion in a new world.
May 3, 2016
It took me a while to get into this book - I found the first 30 pages or so a bit of a slog. It doesn't help that the proof copy is emblazoned with comparisons to Neil Gaiman, Philip Pullman and Ursula Le Guin - those kind of comparisons make me deeply sceptical and prejudice me against the book from the get-go.
But then, on page 33 we meet Tillinghast and the whole thing lifts off. In one of the funniest yet grossest fight scenes I've ever read, he bests two muscle bound bruisers and cheekily insults them all the while, on his way to steal something invaluable from their terrifying shadowy employer.
This is a gleeful mashup of the Wizard of Oz, Moby Dick and scores of other influences, all while being resolutely and hilariously itself.
But then, on page 33 we meet Tillinghast and the whole thing lifts off. In one of the funniest yet grossest fight scenes I've ever read, he bests two muscle bound bruisers and cheekily insults them all the while, on his way to steal something invaluable from their terrifying shadowy employer.
This is a gleeful mashup of the Wizard of Oz, Moby Dick and scores of other influences, all while being resolutely and hilariously itself.
November 13, 2017
3.5 stars
This debut novel features on the 2017 YA Book Prize shortlist, and there was much to enjoy and admire in it. It's one of those quest/adventure novels in which the son gradually takes the place of his father, in this case, as 'Riverkeep' of the Danek river. At the beginning of the novel, Wulliam (known as Wull) is nearing his 16th birthday - the official transition point for handing the Riverkeep responsibility from father to son. Wull longs for adventure, escape, anything but the dark, cold and tedious chore of keeping the lamps lit on the frozen river and the gory job of fishing corpses out of its murky depths. But when an evil river creature called a 'bohdan' drags Wull's father underwater, and then begins to consume him, Wull realises that not only must he take over his father's duties - but he must also search for a cure to rid his father of the evil spirit.
Lots of readers do not enjoy fantasy, and one reason - I think - is that it demands more of the reader. Stewart has a highly textured, sometimes ornate writing style that takes some getting used to. I had to read the opening pages several times before I could find the flow of the story and get an ear for its language. Even an experienced reader cannot just skim this book and hope to extract meaning or even a plot from it. It needs to be read closely and carefully, partly because of the made-up language and partly because of the complicated syntax. There is a lot of description and action that has to be actively imagined/pictured. Having said that, there are some wonderfully colourful bits of writing in it and lots of dark humour, too. Male readers, in particular, will probably enjoy the many fight scenes, the gruesome descriptions, the fart jokes and the many references to 'boy parts'.
Wull is made to suffer quite a lot in this book, not only physically - and he never stops being a punching bag - but also emotionally. His main qualities are his stubborn endurance and his sense of honour. He's a bit dull, to be honest, but luckily there are many entertaining secondary characters in the book - the best being Tillingast, who is a homonculus strong man stuffed with straw. Tillingast is an excellent sidekick who has his own father/son subplot. There are also a few baddies, some interesting women and a ship's captain called Captain Gilt Murdagh who reminds me of Captain Ahab in Moby Dick. And by the way, I haven't even mentioned the whale (here called a mormorach) part of the story.
There's quite a lot of elements to this story; arguably, too many. I wonder, too, if a sequel is planned because several of the storylines aren't really tied up. The book, at times, reminded me of not just Moby Dick, but also Huckleberry Finn, The Wizard of Oz and The Hobbit. But that's more to do with elements of the storyline, and fantasy tropes, than the voice of the story - which was totally unique. At times, the storyline felt undeniably muddy and overcrowded; and yet it had plenty of quirky charm, too. I wanted to give up on it for the first 50 pages, but by the end I felt that it had been a worthwhile investment of reading time.
This debut novel features on the 2017 YA Book Prize shortlist, and there was much to enjoy and admire in it. It's one of those quest/adventure novels in which the son gradually takes the place of his father, in this case, as 'Riverkeep' of the Danek river. At the beginning of the novel, Wulliam (known as Wull) is nearing his 16th birthday - the official transition point for handing the Riverkeep responsibility from father to son. Wull longs for adventure, escape, anything but the dark, cold and tedious chore of keeping the lamps lit on the frozen river and the gory job of fishing corpses out of its murky depths. But when an evil river creature called a 'bohdan' drags Wull's father underwater, and then begins to consume him, Wull realises that not only must he take over his father's duties - but he must also search for a cure to rid his father of the evil spirit.
Lots of readers do not enjoy fantasy, and one reason - I think - is that it demands more of the reader. Stewart has a highly textured, sometimes ornate writing style that takes some getting used to. I had to read the opening pages several times before I could find the flow of the story and get an ear for its language. Even an experienced reader cannot just skim this book and hope to extract meaning or even a plot from it. It needs to be read closely and carefully, partly because of the made-up language and partly because of the complicated syntax. There is a lot of description and action that has to be actively imagined/pictured. Having said that, there are some wonderfully colourful bits of writing in it and lots of dark humour, too. Male readers, in particular, will probably enjoy the many fight scenes, the gruesome descriptions, the fart jokes and the many references to 'boy parts'.
Wull is made to suffer quite a lot in this book, not only physically - and he never stops being a punching bag - but also emotionally. His main qualities are his stubborn endurance and his sense of honour. He's a bit dull, to be honest, but luckily there are many entertaining secondary characters in the book - the best being Tillingast, who is a homonculus strong man stuffed with straw. Tillingast is an excellent sidekick who has his own father/son subplot. There are also a few baddies, some interesting women and a ship's captain called Captain Gilt Murdagh who reminds me of Captain Ahab in Moby Dick. And by the way, I haven't even mentioned the whale (here called a mormorach) part of the story.
There's quite a lot of elements to this story; arguably, too many. I wonder, too, if a sequel is planned because several of the storylines aren't really tied up. The book, at times, reminded me of not just Moby Dick, but also Huckleberry Finn, The Wizard of Oz and The Hobbit. But that's more to do with elements of the storyline, and fantasy tropes, than the voice of the story - which was totally unique. At times, the storyline felt undeniably muddy and overcrowded; and yet it had plenty of quirky charm, too. I wanted to give up on it for the first 50 pages, but by the end I felt that it had been a worthwhile investment of reading time.
January 30, 2018
This richly detailed debut novel by author Martin Stewart is very well done. I enjoyed the thick Scottish brogue all the characters had, which was incredibly and brilliantly narrated by James Cosmo, the actor from Game of Thrones, etc. (seriously, kudos to Blackstone audio for getting him to narrate this novel!). As I adore movies and tv shows from both England and Scotland, listening and understanding the author and the narrator was no big deal for me. (Though I do have to mention that at first, the word “current” was mistaken for a very naughty four-letter word that begins with a “C” as well...and I was very confused, lol. Once I realized my mistake, it was funny).
But this novel...! Seriously, for a YA novel, it rocked my socks. Tons of adventure, wonderful characters throughout the novel, fantastic and original creatures, fight scenes, vivid descriptions, and even a few jokes thrown in, here and there. I was fascinated from the very start, and couldn’t wait to get back to listening to it during the day.
If you give this novel or audiobook a try, PLEASE stick with it. You will be happy you did! I enjoyed the hell out of it.
4 stars, and recommended for lovers of huge imaginations, riverkeeps, sons and fathers, and adventure.
But this novel...! Seriously, for a YA novel, it rocked my socks. Tons of adventure, wonderful characters throughout the novel, fantastic and original creatures, fight scenes, vivid descriptions, and even a few jokes thrown in, here and there. I was fascinated from the very start, and couldn’t wait to get back to listening to it during the day.
If you give this novel or audiobook a try, PLEASE stick with it. You will be happy you did! I enjoyed the hell out of it.
4 stars, and recommended for lovers of huge imaginations, riverkeeps, sons and fathers, and adventure.
dnf
November 27, 2018DNFed at 25%! I should have know when it said "for fans of Neil Gaiman". It reminded me of The Ocean At The End Of The Lane A LOT and that was a pretty good indicator for me to just quit. It's not bad but just really not my thing.
I did a DNF review on my YouTube channel because I feel like other people might really love this!
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I received an ARC of this through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I did a DNF review on my YouTube channel because I feel like other people might really love this!
♦ Booktube Channel ♦ Twitter ♦ Instagram ♦
I received an ARC of this through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
March 27, 2016
Fifteen-year-old Wulliam has grown up with the knowledge he will be eventually be expected to take over his father's work as a Riverkeep, looking after the river and fishing out bodies to give them a dignified delivery from its liquid embrace. But one night, when his father reaches over to pull a corpse into his boat, his own body is taken over by a sinister spirit. So when Wull discovers that a great sea-beast, a mormorach, might possess the cure for his father's affliction Wull sets off down the river to seek it out.
This is a terrific debut, and has the feel of a future classic. With its atmospheric ocean town and gritty, hilarious banter, it's Herman Melville meets Terry Prachett with a dash of Arthur Rackham.
Wull's world is certainly weird and wonderful, both in flora and fauna, as well as its equally bizarre citizens. Martin Stewart is an author who not only has the most fertile of imaginations, but knows how to use it to intrigue without overloading. Instead you're plunged into the Riverkeep world as deeply as Wulliam's father is into the river he tends with such care. You can feel and smell it in all its glorious slimy pungency.
Tillinghurst, the straw man, does comes out with some ripe and saucy comments, that put this book into the fifteen plus range of readers (the plus being adults who will enjoy Stewart’s richly wrought characters, world building and brilliant plot). There is also the delightfully peculiar dialect that might bamboozle a younger audience. But it does make perfect sense if you just relax and let it flow, and it is a wonderful device for bringing the characters to life. The masterfully executed banter between the main protagonists of Wulliam, Tillinghurst, Remedie (with her strange infant) and the mysterious and caring Mix really cements the whole team together.
The bad guys are splendidly vile, often providing the moments that balance between horror and humour. The author is excellent at sliding one into the other to create a great sense of tension in the read as the action hots up.
Without giving too much away, the ending implies this is a tale not yet finished. If that is indeed the case then the next one had better hurry up and work its way out of the author's imagination, or there will be trouble.
Riverkeep was courtesy of Penguin via NetGalley
This is a terrific debut, and has the feel of a future classic. With its atmospheric ocean town and gritty, hilarious banter, it's Herman Melville meets Terry Prachett with a dash of Arthur Rackham.
Wull's world is certainly weird and wonderful, both in flora and fauna, as well as its equally bizarre citizens. Martin Stewart is an author who not only has the most fertile of imaginations, but knows how to use it to intrigue without overloading. Instead you're plunged into the Riverkeep world as deeply as Wulliam's father is into the river he tends with such care. You can feel and smell it in all its glorious slimy pungency.
Tillinghurst, the straw man, does comes out with some ripe and saucy comments, that put this book into the fifteen plus range of readers (the plus being adults who will enjoy Stewart’s richly wrought characters, world building and brilliant plot). There is also the delightfully peculiar dialect that might bamboozle a younger audience. But it does make perfect sense if you just relax and let it flow, and it is a wonderful device for bringing the characters to life. The masterfully executed banter between the main protagonists of Wulliam, Tillinghurst, Remedie (with her strange infant) and the mysterious and caring Mix really cements the whole team together.
The bad guys are splendidly vile, often providing the moments that balance between horror and humour. The author is excellent at sliding one into the other to create a great sense of tension in the read as the action hots up.
Without giving too much away, the ending implies this is a tale not yet finished. If that is indeed the case then the next one had better hurry up and work its way out of the author's imagination, or there will be trouble.
Riverkeep was courtesy of Penguin via NetGalley
May 4, 2017
cross posted from fox and fiction
It's been a long while since I've read a good, entertaining adventure tale. Riverkeep by Martin Stewart was like returning to a familiar and comfortable territory, and a delightful new experience, all at once. There are so many things to love about this book. It has a reluctant and unwittingly hilarious protagonist, Wulliam, and the wonderfully named and very amusing cast of characters he picks up as he makes his way downstream. The world itself is fascinating, with its customs, creatures and magic only hinted at in passing and in the epigraphs from various resources in this world. Every character, even those only met in passing, has their own tale, their own personality and history that makes them seem whole and real, and interesting enough to read a book all about them. And the book is incredibly funny- the dialog especially, not just in the things the inhabitants of this book say, but the way they say it. Stewart really does great job bringing character to the world with the vernacular accents, right down to the name of the protagonist. The only flaw I could find with it is that it leaves many ends loose, in regards to side characters' storylines, but this too could be seen as a positive thing. It doesn't end feeling unfinished, and it's nice to know that there could be more installments to wrap things up with other characters. Riverkeep really does contain a world I'd love to delve into again and again.
It's been a long while since I've read a good, entertaining adventure tale. Riverkeep by Martin Stewart was like returning to a familiar and comfortable territory, and a delightful new experience, all at once. There are so many things to love about this book. It has a reluctant and unwittingly hilarious protagonist, Wulliam, and the wonderfully named and very amusing cast of characters he picks up as he makes his way downstream. The world itself is fascinating, with its customs, creatures and magic only hinted at in passing and in the epigraphs from various resources in this world. Every character, even those only met in passing, has their own tale, their own personality and history that makes them seem whole and real, and interesting enough to read a book all about them. And the book is incredibly funny- the dialog especially, not just in the things the inhabitants of this book say, but the way they say it. Stewart really does great job bringing character to the world with the vernacular accents, right down to the name of the protagonist. The only flaw I could find with it is that it leaves many ends loose, in regards to side characters' storylines, but this too could be seen as a positive thing. It doesn't end feeling unfinished, and it's nice to know that there could be more installments to wrap things up with other characters. Riverkeep really does contain a world I'd love to delve into again and again.
March 28, 2016
Fifteen-year-old Wulliam is dreading taking up his family's mantle of Riverkeep, tending the river and fishing corpses from its treacherous waters. But then everything changes. One night his father is possessed by a dark spirit, and Wull hears that a cure lurks deep within the great sea-beast known as the mormorach. He realizes he must go on an epic journey downriver to find it - or lose Pappa forever.
I have been given an ARC by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I'm now several chapters in to this book and I'm sorry to say things are going nowhere fast. The story feels sluggish and the interesting parts of it are few and far between.
Wull is, at times, likeable as a protagonist, but most of the time I found him to be more than a little frustrating. My overall favourite of the characters is Tillinghast. He saves the story at points.
The sluggish elements of the story pervade throughout the whole book and there were some parts where I had to really fight not to give up on the book. Books, for me, need to grab me and swirl me around up till the end. Sadly, this book just does not do it for me.
A two out of five star read.
I am profoundly grateful to Netgalley and Random House UK.
I have been given an ARC by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I'm now several chapters in to this book and I'm sorry to say things are going nowhere fast. The story feels sluggish and the interesting parts of it are few and far between.
Wull is, at times, likeable as a protagonist, but most of the time I found him to be more than a little frustrating. My overall favourite of the characters is Tillinghast. He saves the story at points.
The sluggish elements of the story pervade throughout the whole book and there were some parts where I had to really fight not to give up on the book. Books, for me, need to grab me and swirl me around up till the end. Sadly, this book just does not do it for me.
A two out of five star read.
I am profoundly grateful to Netgalley and Random House UK.
March 19, 2016
A rich, gothic fantasy about Wull and his father who keep the river free from ice in the winter but whose lives are overturned by the arrival upstream of a mormorach, a huge, magical creature that causes all sorts of other long-dormant magic to awaken, including the terrible bohdan which takes possession of Wull's father.
Stewart's writing positively seethes with raw talent and imaginative power but his structure is slightly ramshackle. He has a tendency to move the plot on by generating an endless supply of lavishly grotesque characters. They are great fun but it's not always clear why they are in the story.
As a result the narrative ends up littered with loose ends and abandoned sub-plots so that in the end you are left wondering what it was all about. Nonetheless, Riverkeep is a remarkable debut and heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice in children's fantasy.
Stewart's writing positively seethes with raw talent and imaginative power but his structure is slightly ramshackle. He has a tendency to move the plot on by generating an endless supply of lavishly grotesque characters. They are great fun but it's not always clear why they are in the story.
As a result the narrative ends up littered with loose ends and abandoned sub-plots so that in the end you are left wondering what it was all about. Nonetheless, Riverkeep is a remarkable debut and heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice in children's fantasy.
May 11, 2016
I really, really wanted to love this book, the comparisons to some of my favourite authors had me clapping my hands with glee, but sadly there were bits of it that just didn't work for me. It is in parts beautifully written, the use of language is utterly lovely but somewhere in the telling the story just gets lost. Too many characters, too many different points of view and too much flitting from scene to scene leaves the reader bemused and a little lost as to where we are supposed to be.
There was, however, enough in this book to keep me reading and towards the end I did find myself enjoying things a lot more, until the point when half the characters suddenly disappear (room for a sequel perhaps?). I do believe though that Mr Stewart has great potential and I will watch what comes next from his pen with interest.
There was, however, enough in this book to keep me reading and towards the end I did find myself enjoying things a lot more, until the point when half the characters suddenly disappear (room for a sequel perhaps?). I do believe though that Mr Stewart has great potential and I will watch what comes next from his pen with interest.
March 5, 2019
No tengo ni idea de qué libro he leído
September 20, 2025
This book was the worst young adult book I have read in a good long time.
There are characters that appear hither and thither with literally no purpose. They disappear in fact, before the end of the book, to wander off into their own stories without leaving a trace of their existence behind. Why were they there in the first place? I haven't the faintest.
There are other characters that appear just to deliver a homily on the nature of family, love, and relationships, then disappear just as quickly.
There are antagonists who really really really despise the secondary character, who go so far as to destroy everything remotely connected with that secondary character; the house in which he was born, the man who originally wanted him dead, the random boy he travelled with for a bit, and yet zero explanation as to why they despise the secondary character so much. Is the homunculus responsible for carving out his tongue? No. Did the homunculus steal his job? No. He beat him up once. That somehow equates to such hatred that he will chase him down to the ends of the earth? Why? The man literally worked for years for the dude responsible for cutting out his tongue, so why would he feel the need to chase after this homunculus to the death because of one little beating? It doesn't make sense.
There are other characters that appear, that somehow know everything there is to know about everyone, being able to recognize a homunculus on sight, and even knowing exactly what to do to disarm said being, even though a homunculus isn't anything normal, and people throughout the book, who would be in a position of knowing both what a homunculus is and how to make one, are in shock when they are confronted with one. So, how does that make sense?
The diction is incredibly hard to read, the discussion of the bata and the oars is endless.
If I were to sum up this book it would be that the author smoked weed and listened to 'row row row your boat' entirely too much while he wrote it.
There are characters that appear hither and thither with literally no purpose. They disappear in fact, before the end of the book, to wander off into their own stories without leaving a trace of their existence behind. Why were they there in the first place? I haven't the faintest.
There are other characters that appear just to deliver a homily on the nature of family, love, and relationships, then disappear just as quickly.
There are antagonists who really really really despise the secondary character, who go so far as to destroy everything remotely connected with that secondary character; the house in which he was born, the man who originally wanted him dead, the random boy he travelled with for a bit, and yet zero explanation as to why they despise the secondary character so much. Is the homunculus responsible for carving out his tongue? No. Did the homunculus steal his job? No. He beat him up once. That somehow equates to such hatred that he will chase him down to the ends of the earth? Why? The man literally worked for years for the dude responsible for cutting out his tongue, so why would he feel the need to chase after this homunculus to the death because of one little beating? It doesn't make sense.
There are other characters that appear, that somehow know everything there is to know about everyone, being able to recognize a homunculus on sight, and even knowing exactly what to do to disarm said being, even though a homunculus isn't anything normal, and people throughout the book, who would be in a position of knowing both what a homunculus is and how to make one, are in shock when they are confronted with one. So, how does that make sense?
The diction is incredibly hard to read, the discussion of the bata and the oars is endless.
If I were to sum up this book it would be that the author smoked weed and listened to 'row row row your boat' entirely too much while he wrote it.
November 11, 2018
I liked the atmosphere created in the book - the depiction of the river and of the places travelled in the story. Unfortunately, I couldn't get 'into it' and had to make myself keep going back to read another chapter. I think it was a combination of the characters I didn't quite connect to, and slightly off pacing. Shame, as I loved the idea of the story and it had great potential.
February 7, 2018
Didn't love it. Full review is on my blog.
It had plenty of action and adventure, but it felt rushed and by jamming so much into such a short time frame, it seemed like everything was glossed over.
It had plenty of action and adventure, but it felt rushed and by jamming so much into such a short time frame, it seemed like everything was glossed over.
dnf
July 19, 2017The heavily accented dialogue combined with the graphic description of water logged bodies isn't working for me.
March 23, 2018
Je n’ai vraiment pas accroché à ce livre, à cette histoire et à ces personnages. Je reconnais que c’était original, mais définitivement pas pour moi ...
October 3, 2016
This is my first book review on Goodreads. Okay, maybe it is not a book review.
These notes were written by Mace the first level cleric, third level warrior.
I had wanted to do some fishing, so I was interested in a boat trip. Avandra, the Luck Goddess, booked me into this excursion. I knew something was wrong when I felt the harsh winter breeze and saw the old boathouse. Wull came out to greet me and soon I was inside looking at his father. The two obviously needed help. Wull was not quite sixteen. His father had milky gray eyes, was tied to a chair, and demanding to be fed (fish heads). As some time passed, Wull came up with a plan. I wanted to help them. I could go fishing at some other place and time.
We took the boat down the river and we met some interesting people who became our friends. It was not a relaxing journey with the cold temperatures and nasty beasts that wanted to cause trouble. Getting dumped into the freezing river was not one of the highlights of this trip. I could not even get my Detect Evil spell to work (stupid dice).
When it was all said and done, I loved this adventure. I recommend the bed and breakfast owned by Mrs. Vihv. Her scones are to die for.
These notes were written by Mace the first level cleric, third level warrior.
I had wanted to do some fishing, so I was interested in a boat trip. Avandra, the Luck Goddess, booked me into this excursion. I knew something was wrong when I felt the harsh winter breeze and saw the old boathouse. Wull came out to greet me and soon I was inside looking at his father. The two obviously needed help. Wull was not quite sixteen. His father had milky gray eyes, was tied to a chair, and demanding to be fed (fish heads). As some time passed, Wull came up with a plan. I wanted to help them. I could go fishing at some other place and time.
We took the boat down the river and we met some interesting people who became our friends. It was not a relaxing journey with the cold temperatures and nasty beasts that wanted to cause trouble. Getting dumped into the freezing river was not one of the highlights of this trip. I could not even get my Detect Evil spell to work (stupid dice).
When it was all said and done, I loved this adventure. I recommend the bed and breakfast owned by Mrs. Vihv. Her scones are to die for.
July 28, 2016
[3.5 stars]
A slow (and a little bit confusing, but I actually liked that) beginning for an overall really nice book. I only wish it had ~50 more pages and that some characters had been developed further -- you will know who I am talking about.
Still, the language is beautiful, the descriptions vivid and the characters surprisingly funny. It felt like The Wizard of Oz stumbling into The Witcher's world, which is basically the recipe to steal my heart. I'm looking forward to Martin Stewart's next work!
A slow (and a little bit confusing, but I actually liked that) beginning for an overall really nice book. I only wish it had ~50 more pages and that some characters had been developed further -- you will know who I am talking about.
Still, the language is beautiful, the descriptions vivid and the characters surprisingly funny. It felt like The Wizard of Oz stumbling into The Witcher's world, which is basically the recipe to steal my heart. I'm looking forward to Martin Stewart's next work!
July 11, 2016
DNF
Usually, if I don't really like the book that I'm reading, I will still try to read as much as I can. But, with this book, I finished chapter three and I can't read anymore. I was so bored and a bit confused. The characters all felt the same so it was very hard to tell them apart. I was expecting much more because this book sounded amazing. But maybe, I will find the courage to start this book again when I feel like it.
From what I've read so far, I give this book 2/5 stars.
Usually, if I don't really like the book that I'm reading, I will still try to read as much as I can. But, with this book, I finished chapter three and I can't read anymore. I was so bored and a bit confused. The characters all felt the same so it was very hard to tell them apart. I was expecting much more because this book sounded amazing. But maybe, I will find the courage to start this book again when I feel like it.
From what I've read so far, I give this book 2/5 stars.
Read
July 2, 2016DNF at ten pages. Sad, I know. But dialect and a really odd writing style is just not working for me. If I have to struggle to read and pay attention, that is not something I can do right now. I wish I had sampled this before I picked it up but with everything in such a whirlwind at ALA, I wasn't able to do that. Will probably be passing this on to someone it is more suited for.
February 4, 2017
I am so disappointed. This book sounded so good and he cover is beautiful. But there isn't too much I can say about this book. It had really good detail of the scenery. Honestly that was about it. I really didn't understand the story or the characters. It was just kinda dull.
February 13, 2016
A stunning debut set in a thrilling, original world. Exciting, evocative, and absolutely gripping. Moby Dick meets Neil Gaiman.
August 31, 2016
Extreme weirdness punctuated every so often by sex jokes. And the names for people and things bothered me - mostly he just added a letter and boom! it's a fantasy name. Lazy.
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